Marijuana grower lands 10 years in federal prison

ROCKFORD – The last of four men convicted in a large-scale marijuana-growing operation in Paw Paw was sentenced this week to 10 years in federal prison.

Eric M. Konrady, 26, of Naperville, pleaded guilty in August to conspiring to grow 100 or more marijuana plants and possessing a firearm as part of a drug conspiracy.

Officers from the Illinois State Police Blackhawk Area Task Force and other agencies raided rented houses at 1025 and 1027 Paw Paw Road on March 26, 2011. They found 458 marijuana plants in the basements; items used to grow marijuana; 16 ounces of harvested marijuana; $1,100 in cash; and 13 firearms.

They arrested Konrady, Benjamin F. Garcia, 27, of Aurora, Donald P. Cipra, 28, and Shannon L. Gregory, 40, both of Paw Paw. Cipra and Gregory were sentenced last month to 10 years, Garcia was sentenced in September to 9 months.